Juliana Woodland and Nate Jacobs have been best friends for as long as they can remember.
They are now in their junior year at East Highland High School and things are starting to get complicated.
*Had this story up on my old account and it got dele...
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Juliana's unwavering belief in Nate's ability to change was a constant source of motivation for him. She could see the good in him, even when he couldn't, and it was her that had given him the courage to take the first step on the long road to redemption.
They spent countless hours together, dealing with the anger and resentment that had once nearly destroyed their relationship. They faced their issues and encouraged each other to move forward.
Nate's decision to report his father to the authorities had not been an easy one for him to make, but it was necessary for his journey towards healing.
The weight of the truth had been a heavy burden on his shoulders for far too long, and it was a relief to know Cal would finally be punished for secretly recording his affairs, including those with underage victims.
Being away from the man that had cast a shadow over him for his whole life, Nate felt lighter and closer to being able to build a future unmarred by him.
He practically lived at Juliana's already, but after he turned Cal in, he officially moved into the Woodland house. It was there where he found refuge from the tempest of his past.
It was more than just a physical relocation. It was a symbolic shedding of his old life hiding Cal's secrets and dealing with his cruelty; a declaration of his intention to start anew.
He attended therapy and anger management faithfully with a fervour and determination that surprised even himself.
For the first time in his life, he found himself opening up about his deep-rooted anger and the traumatic experiences that had shaped him into the person he had become.
His therapist provided a safe space for him to unpack everything, and to understand that his actions were not a product of genetics, but rather a learned behavior that could be changed. What Cal did, and the way he treated Nate, did not define him.
The process was painful, but he could feel the grip of his rage loosening and began to show significant results. His volatile temper subsided, replaced by moments of patience, self-reflection and understanding.
The fury that once consumed him had been replaced with a dedication to be a better person and make the changes he knew were needed.
He realized that his relationship with Juliana was not about possession, jealousy and control. It was about enriching each other's lives, security, their emotional and physical connection, and contributing to each other's growth and happiness.
He put all of his effort into pushing himself to be the person she had always deserved, and the person he always wanted to be.
Juliana, inspired by Nate's willingness to seek help, decided to do the same. For so long, she had pushed down the pain of her father's abandonment, and it was time she actually deal with it instead of trying to ignore it.
She went to counselling, which helped her understand that her father's choices were not a reflection of her worth, and that she was deserving of healthy love and happiness regardless of what he did. Her self-esteem grew, and with it, her ability to set boundaries and make better choices.
She saw immense change in Nate every single day; the way his eyes had lost their feral glint and found peace in the quiet moments they shared. Things that would have easily sent him over the edge before no longer affected him that way.
The tremendous amount of effort and hard work he put into himself and their relationship was evident. She felt secure in the knowledge that he was committed to overcoming his issues.
She felt a profound sense of pride in the incredible transformation she witnessed, knowing she had played a significant part in it.
He treated her with the respect and adoration she should have always received from him, and their love grew stronger as they faced each day together.
There would always be new challenges, and Nate still had moments of insecurity and doubt, but his dedication to change meant that he was equipped to handle them with grace and patience instead of rage and violence.
They often spoke of careers and passions, of plans to travel, to see the world beyond the confines of their small town. They dreamed of life after high school and college, of getting married, starting a family, and filling their own home with the laughter of children who would never know the pain of the past.
Juliana always looked at Nate with a devotion that was deep and unshakable. She had seen the worst of him and had chosen to stay and to love him through the pain. In doing so, she had helped him become the best version of himself, and allowed her own growth, too.
When Nate gazed into Juliana's eyes, he knew that no matter what happened, he had found his home in her arms, in her love, and in the life they had worked so hard to both fix and build together.
They had come so far; they fought for each other, for themselves, for their right to be happy and healthy. And now, their future together looked brighter than ever before.
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Thank you so much for reading and for the feedback along the way, I truly appreciate you all so much!
I'm actually a little sad it's over and am thinking of doing a sequel, but I also kind of like it as is, so we'll see.
